Container reinforcing harness and handle



July 13, 1965 E. s. TUPPER CONTAINERYREINFORCING HARNESS AND HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 21, 1958 INVENTOR. EARL 5 TUPFER y 3, 1965 E. s. TUPPER 3,194,460

CONTAINER REINFORCING HARNESS AND HANDLE Original Filed May 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EARL 6. TUPPER Maw United States Patent n in.

3,194,460 CONTAINER REINFQRCING HARNESS AND HANDLE Earl S. Tripper, Esrnond, R.l., assignor, by mesne assignrnents, to Rexall Drug and Chemical Company, a corporation of Delaware Original appiication May 21, 1958, Ser. No. 736,756, now

The application is a division of Tupper application Serial Number 736,756, filed May 21, 1958, which has matured into Patent No. 3,137,423.

This invention relates generally to an oriented and resiliently distortable configuration of plastic to serve as a removable harness for vessels of all types, said harness having Vessel reinforcing elements and hand-engageable bail elements. The vessels include containers, bags, lunch and food kits, cans, all types of hand transportable carrying devices, packages and the like, and the harness and combination with any selective vessel are adapted for industrial, commercial, domestic and personal uses.

More specifically, the invention encompasses structures having frictionally fitting or otherwise removable reinforcing resiliently distortable or yieldable framing elements for said vessels, said framing elements being provided with integrally and otherwisely formed hand grip, handle or bail extensions, said framing elements serving not only as mounting means for the said hand engaging members, but also as yieldable and resilient reinforcing means for the vessel walls.

In providing hand engaging members for supporting and transporting vessels of all types, many fabricating problems are met including economy of manufacture,

structural design, efficiency of operation, durability, capacity for load support, capacity to sustain unequal load distribution, capacity to resist distortion of the vessel Walls, and reinforcement of areas of relative weakness.

It is well recognized, moreover, that handles or other hand engageable means on vessels or the mounting means of trunnions therefor tend to be damaged or destroyed long before the basic vessel loses its utility. Such hand engageable members must also be provided with protective elements so as not to be a source of laceration or other injury to the hands. In addition, further problems are created by the use of handles accompanying such vessels in that overall dimensions thereof are increased thereby minimizing efiiciency in the storing and stacking thereof and in that such handles afford dangerous projections.

Although the invention herein applies to vessels made of any material, it is shown in most embodiments as applied to vessels molded or formed of resilient and yieldable plastic. Such vessel walls provide the removable mounting for reinforcing frames or bands having as integral extensions thereof hand engaging members for supporting and carrying purposes, said bands or collars and hand engaging members being of resilient and yieldable plastic.

It is well known that handles for fabricated vessels of plastic give rise to strain on the vessel walls during support and carrying thereof especially at areas where vessel trunnions or equivalents thereof are used for the handle or bail mounting. In instances when metallic or other substantially non-yieldable collars or bands are used, the handles are usually attached for articulation or otherwise with the collar or band at the terminal portions thereof, and load distribution, whether equal or unequal, creates a distortion in the vessel walls by reason of the natural yieldability of said walls on each side BJMAW Patented July 13, 1965 of said relatively rigid bands. It is apparent that the effective value of such bands for reinforcement of the vessel .walls is counterbalanced by the cutting effect thereof and the distortion producing strain of the vessel.wa1ls adjacent the bands.

Accordingly, an object of the invention herein is provision of a structural assembly comprising resilient and yieldable plastic frame or-band elements adapted for frictional or removable fitting to vessels and also comprising hand grip or bail elements or members of preferably the same material suitably formed or molded with the said band elements or members as extensions thereof or otherwise and removable therewith. Thus, the removable band elements or frame members singly or plurally serve both as reinforcing elements because of smaller or differential resiliency and yieldability with respect to the vessel walls, and as single or cooperating comfortable handle members or bails at the extended portions of said band elements or frame members.

Another object of the invention resides in said type of structure wherein the handle, or bail members, or extensions all with respect to the frame elements are capable of being sprung for vessel supporting and carrying position owing to the molded configuration of the frame and hail assembly.

Another object of the invention resides in said type of structure wherein a plurality of collar, band or frame a disassembleable compound type of bail or handle element.

Another object of the invention resides in said type of structure wherein one or more frame members have engaging elements for disassembleable cooperation and wherein the extension or bail elements thereof also are provided with engaging cooperating elements to form a disassembleable compound type of bail or handle element.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a harness assembly wherein the reinforcingly operative framing element may be duplicated by parallel disposition, and the bail element whether in single or compound form, may be in normal vessel supporting or carrying position, or in a position which is resiliently sprung owing to vessel weight. 1

Further objects of the invention reside in the provisionof removable plastic harness assemblies engageable with vessels and being formed in any selective configuration, but a configuration designed for frictional engagement with peripheral elements of the cooperating vessel. The configuration .is preferably formed of runs having uniform or differential selective cross-sectional shapes and sizes. Such shapes and sizes include rounded, curved, elliptical, polygonal, rectangular, hollow, solid and other irregular forms.

The harness is formed by any suitable molding and fabricating procedure from a plastic material into the required configuration. A plastic which is inert, resiliently flexible and yieldable is preferred and includes the polymers and copolymers of olefins such as the polyethylenes and the polypropylenes, the nylons, vinyls, blends or alloys of these and other plastics blended or other- Wise having either intrinsic similar physical characteristics or so manufactured as to have such characteristics.

The molding or forming procedure gives the harness configuration an orientation for resilient distortabil-ity as a result of setting in mold cavities forming the said configuration.

The harness above mentioned is simple to apply and remove, is durable, lengthens the life of the vessel, adds aesthetic character thereto, is economical to manufacture, and is strong in use.

anemone s These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification are-drawings showing several embodiments of the invention wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in'perspective of the invention showing the same mounted on a vessel;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view'of the invention mounted on the vessel;

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective showing the handle portion fragmentarily of one of the twin collar members of the invention wherein a hooked projectionis shown in solid and phantom lines for operation thereof; and,

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective in disassembled form of the invention in side by side and spaced relationship before being applied to a vessel.

The harness assembly according to this invention is shown in FIGURES l-4 and consists of a pair of separable frame parts each aifording handle elements. A typical vessel 138 is provided but as shown is a type heretofore patented in the name of the applicant herein as inventor under US. Pat. No. 2,765,831 dated October 9, 1956. Vessel 138 has a cover 139 having a peripheral flange 1 th adapted to engage the vessel flange 141. As shown and if desired, vessel flange 1.411 may be supported against the walls of the vessel by spaced buttress elements 142. Vessel 138 as shown is carried in inverted position, but this is a matter of choice.

The separable elements of the invention are indicated generally by letters L and L and are similar. As best seen in FIGURE 4-, each of the frame parts have spaced teats 144 on the bottom runs 151, the side runs being each indicated by numeral 145 and the offset portions thereof 146, the side runs being joined by top runs T147.

Each of the top runs 147 is provided with a handle frame 1 58 having as bottom runs the intermediate ortion of top runs 147. Each handle frame 143 at one end of the top run thereof is provided with an extension web 149 carrying a downwardly and inwardly curved hook member ffitl and respectively.

For application, the separable elements L and L are first positioned in spaced relationship so that hook members 15d and 15th": are diagonally disposed as seen in FEGURE 4. Then the elements are applied at opposite ends of the vessel and the respective web members 149 are sprung as seen in FIGURE 3 for hook engagement with the opposing top runs of the handle frames 148 to result in a separable engagement for parts L and L. This engagement eifects a convergence of said parts L and L" as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 and maintains a sprung position of the handle frames 48.

T he vessel may be formed of the same or other variety of plastic as the framing element; or the vessel may be formed of non-plastic material. I

The harness assembly may be in various uniform or difierential colors to add aesthetic value to the harness assembliesand associated vessels, while selective config-.

urations and selective shapes and sizes in cross-section of the runs give combined grace, streamlining and character to the associated parts. V

It is distinctly understood thatall configurative sizes and shapes of the assembly, cross-sectional shapes and sizes of the runs thereof, variations in the means of integration of parts, duplication of parts, equivalent plastic materials used and different processes for fabricating the harness assembly and other minor changes and variations in the process and products described herein may all be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a container having generally circular top and bottom walls with upright connecting side walls and .a removable frame and handle assembly adapted for frictional positioning enga ement, support, and transport of the container, said frame and handle assembly solely comprising an interengageable and identical pair of individual frame and handle units, each said units being a continuous, rod-like, planar, resiliently yieldable and ,di'stortable plastic element, said unit comprising a't irst lower run adapt-ed for engagement with and extension across and under the bottom wall of the container, said lower run being of a slightly. lesser extent the largest lateral dimension of the bottom was of the container, s second side run integral and extending upwardly from each end of -said lowerrun in engagement with portions -o f the' container sidewall, a third upper run integral withand extending between the upper end of said side runs, said upper run extending across the top wall of the container, the peripheral extent formed by all of said runs further being of a slightlylesser extent than the largest peripheral dimension of the, container, a handle integral with and extendingupwardly from said upper run, said handle'including an upper uninterrupted gripping portion and a connector on each endthereof integrally connecting said gripping portion to said ripper run, a hook-shaped member integral "with and extending from one end of said upper gripping portion, said member being resiliently bendable net of the plane of said unit,

andsaid pair of said units being positioned upon the container with the units in spaced opposition toeach other with said hook-shaped members positioned distal from each other. i

32. The combination of a container having generally circular top and bottom walls with upright connecting side walls and a removable frame and handle. assembly adapted for frictional positioning engagemenhsupport, and transport of the container, said frame' and handle assembly solely comprisingan interen eable pair of ar a individual frame and handle units, each of said units being a continuous, rod-like, planar, resiliently yieldable and distortable plastic element, said unit comprising a first lower run adapted for engagement with and extension across and under the bottom wall of the container, a second side run integral withfand extending upwardly from each end of said lower run in engagement with portions of the container side wall, a third upper-run integral with and extending'between the upper end of said side runs, said upper run extending acrossthe top wall of the container, a handle integral with and extending upwardly from said upper run, said handle including an upper uninterrupted gripping portion and a connector on each end thereof integrally connecting said gripping portion to said upper run, a hook-shaped member integral with and extending from one end of said upper gripping portion, said member being resiliently bendable out-of the plane of said unit, and said pair of said units being positioned upon the container with the units in spaced opposition to each other with said hook-shaped members positioned distal from each other.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein each of said units is identical in. construction suchthat the handles may be simultaneously grasped by the user for lifting and carrying the container.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the second runs of a first unit extend. upwardly towards the other unit and vice versa, such that ,the'fir'st runs of the units are spaced a greater distance apart in interconnected assembly'upon the container than the third runs of said units."

5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the. second runs of a first unit extend upwardly towards. the other unit and vice versa, such that the first runs of the units are spaced at greater distance apart in interconnected assembly upon the container than the third runs of said units. f 6'. A pair of frame and handle units}. for use as a removable container carrier, each of said'units being a continuous, rod-like, planar, resiliently y-ieldable and distortable plastic element, each unit comprising a lower run, two side runs, one of said side runs integral with and extending upwardly from each end of said lower run, an upper run integral with and extending between the upper ends of said side runs, said upper run including a handle integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom, said handle including an uninterrupted gripping portion, and a clasping member integral with and extending from said upper run, said clasping member being resiliently bendable out of the plane of its unit for gripping engagement with the upper run of the other unit of said pair of units when such are placed in opposition to each other with said clasping members positioned distal from each other.

'7. A pair of frame and handle units for use as a removable container carrier, each of said units being a continuous, rod-like, planar, resiliently yieldable and distortable plastic element, each unit comprising a lower run, two side runs, one of said side runs integral With and extending upwardly from each end of said lower run, an upper run integral with and extending between the upper ends of said side runs, a handle integral with and extendring upwardly from said upper run, said handle including an upper uninterrupted gripping portion and a connector on each end thereof integrally connecting said gripping portion to said upper run, a hook-shaped member integral with and extending from one end of said upper gripping portion, said hook-shaped member being resiliently bendable out of the plane of its unit for gripping engagement with the handle of the other unit of said pair of units when such are placed in opposition to each other with said hook-shaped members positioned distal from each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 653,125 7/00 Tucker 217125 1,728,521 9/29 Anderson 22445.14 2,982,434 5/61 Hidding.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,070,949 1954 France.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, ERNEST A. FALLER, 111.,

Examiners. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A CONTAINER HAVING GENERALLY CIRCULAR TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS WITH UPRIGHT CONNECTING SAID WALLS AND A REMOVABLE FRAME AND HANDLE ASSEMBLE ADAPTED FOR FRICTIONAL POSITIONING ENGAGEMENT, SUPPORT, AND TRANSPORT OF THE CONTAINER, SAID FRAME AND HANDLE ASSEMBLY SOLELY COMPRISING AN INTERENGAGEABLE AND IDENTICAL PAIR OF INDIVIDUAL FRAME AND HANDLE UNITS, EACH OF SAID UNITS BEING A CONTINUOUS, ROD-LIKE, PLANAR, RESILIENTLY YIELDABLE AND DISTORTABLE PLASTIC ELEMENT, SAID UNIT COMPRISING A FIRST LOWER RUN ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH AND EXTENSION ACROSS AND UNDER THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CONTAINER, SAID LOWER UN BEING OF A SLIGHTLY LESSER EXTENT THAN THE LARGEST LATERAL DIMENSION OF THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CONTAINER, A SECOND SIDE RUN INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM EACH END OF SAID LOWER RUN IN ENGAGEMENT WITH PORTIONS OF THE CONTAINER SIDE WALL, A THIRD UPPER RUN INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UPPER END OF SAID SIDE RUNS, SAID UPPER RUN EXTENDING ACROSS THE TOP WALL OF THE CONTAINER, THE PERIPHERAL EXTENT FORMED BY ALL OF SAID RUNS FURTHER BEING OF A SLIGHTLY LESSER EXTENT THAN THE LARGEST PERIPHERAL DIMENSION OF THE CONTAINER, A HANDLE INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM AID UPPER RUN, SAID HANDLE INCLUDING AN UPPER UNINTERRUPTED GRIPPING PORTION AND A CONNECTOR ON EACH END THEREOF INTEGRALLY CONNECTING SAID GRIPPING PORTION TO SAID UPPER RUN, A HOOK-SHAPED MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF SAID UPPER GRIPPOING PORTION, SAID MEMBER BEING RESILIENTLY BENDABLE OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID UNIT, AND SAID PAIR OF SAID UNITS BEING POSITIONED UPON THE CONTAINER WITH THE UNITS IN SPACED OPPOSITION TO EACH OTHER WITH SAID HOOK-SHAPED MEMBERS POSITIONED DISTAL FROM EACH OTHER. 